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Wow.
Mar 12, 2003 11:23:02 GMT -5
Post by Dane on Mar 12, 2003 11:23:02 GMT -5
I sort of steared clear of Xiu Xiu for awhile, without listening to any of their songs, even though I've been a big fan of albums related to Slim Moon. I mean, there have been so many great albums from groups on Kill Rock Stars and 5RC, like Unwound, Sleater-Kinney, Elliott Smith, Deerhoof, the Great Unraveling, Star Pimp, and more, so naturally I should've been inclined to give the band a chance. But I think early reviews referred to the band as very techno-ish, which freaked me out. Anyway, a couple weeks ago, Pitchforkmedia.com had a feature review on A Promise. The review definitely intrigued me, and a couple days ago, I downloaded the song "Sad Pony Guerilla Girl." I was quite stunned. I also downloaded "I Broke Up," which equally excited me. I think that Xiu Xiu is really a band to pay attention to. The production is ultra bizarre, but the songs all have really cool melodies, and Jamie Stewart's singing, which I love, makes each song feel like it's going to collapse at any second (and believe me, this a fantastic thing when a band can pull it off). So anyway, I just wanted to sing my praises on the message board and maybe get some conversations started.
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Wow.
Mar 14, 2003 12:22:21 GMT -5
Post by selkcip on Mar 14, 2003 12:22:21 GMT -5
the production and the instrumentation are what drew me in. i'm still having difficulty with j.s.'s vocals (seem forced sometimes) but i don't mind them. and the melodies, THE MELODIES are simply beautiful. 'a promise' seems pretty experimental to me, a lot of it works though. i'm excited to hear the 'chimes' ep
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Wow.
Mar 22, 2003 3:26:44 GMT -5
Post by collin on Mar 22, 2003 3:26:44 GMT -5
i think i first bought the cd because i just happened to be at rasputin and saw the cd. something about a band from san jose was intriguing... you should definitely listen to 'kinfe play' if you're into the melodies. i personally like the song 'suha.' on another note, does anyone here like the band hella? they're also on the 5rc label and i was thinking about buying their cd the other day...
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Wow.
Mar 24, 2003 21:53:36 GMT -5
Post by dr. strangelove on Mar 24, 2003 21:53:36 GMT -5
actually, i found that jamie s.'s voice drew me into the music. there are moments of such unflinching honesty that i don't care that he doesn't sound traditionally beautiful... like when billie holiday's voice falters a bit- those moments are sometimes the best parts. a bit of personality comes out, and while this kind of honesty bothers some, this album is filled with candid moments, and that's what makes it so original and inspiring...
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Wow.
Mar 25, 2003 10:23:19 GMT -5
Post by Stuci Firme on Mar 25, 2003 10:23:19 GMT -5
yah.. his voice has to be my favourite of anyone's
EVEN MORE THAN THOM YORKE.. OOOH TAKE THAT INDIE SCENESTERS
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Wow.
Mar 25, 2003 14:57:38 GMT -5
Post by dr. strangelove on Mar 25, 2003 14:57:38 GMT -5
now, i will agree that his voice is cooler than thom yorke's, but there are two voices that even jamie s. can't touch: billie holiday (of course, she's dead) and jeff mangum (of neutral milk hotel). mr mangum is the god of passionate, honest and abrupt vocals
"the ONly girl I EVer lOVed! was born with rOses in hER EYes!"
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Wow.
Mar 25, 2003 16:53:32 GMT -5
Post by pickles on Mar 25, 2003 16:53:32 GMT -5
voices in my head: thalia zedek, she of come. rza from wu tang clan
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Wow.
Mar 25, 2003 21:43:21 GMT -5
Post by guest on Mar 25, 2003 21:43:21 GMT -5
sorry doctor stanglove...that guys vocals are no where near as passionate as Jamie Stewart. Have you ever seen Xiu Xiu in concert? Probably not.
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Wow.
Mar 26, 2003 2:03:06 GMT -5
Post by dr. strangelove on Mar 26, 2003 2:03:06 GMT -5
no, i haven't yet, nor have i seen nmh live, but from the cd's, i do rank mangum higher. i think jamie stewart has one of the most honest and brilliant voices i've ever heard, and my friends are all highly annoyed by the oft sound of xiu xiu coming through my speakers. i actually found myself crying the first time i heard hives hives. but mangum does strike a more personal chord.
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Wow.
Mar 31, 2003 17:44:36 GMT -5
Post by collin on Mar 31, 2003 17:44:36 GMT -5
to me stewart sounds like a cross between robert smith and conor oberst... in a good way. i just dont like it when the chorus seems to start and it sounds really good, but then the song's over. that seems to happen a lot on 'a promise'
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Wow.
Apr 11, 2003 2:20:34 GMT -5
Post by despaley on Apr 11, 2003 2:20:34 GMT -5
One of my favorite things about the lyrics (and especially Stewart's delivery) is that every once in a while, he drops a line like the infamous "I'M GOING TO CUT OPEN YOUR FOREHEAD WITH A ROOFING SHINGLE," and it's just so funny and horrible at the same time. Kind of like how Don Hertzfeldt will draw a joke in "Rejected," and the laughter kind of forces itself out of you, because you know it's horrible and you shouldn't laugh, but you don't really have a choice.
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Wow.
Apr 11, 2003 14:13:38 GMT -5
Post by mofo on Apr 11, 2003 14:13:38 GMT -5
I like the fact that a lot of Xiu Xiu songs are told from a female perspective. I can't find the word to describe it, really. It's just original. You don't see a lot of artists doing that.
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Wow.
Dec 28, 2003 22:43:10 GMT -5
Post by guest on Dec 28, 2003 22:43:10 GMT -5
"the ONly girl I EVer lOVed! was born with rOses in hER EYes!"
A-FUCKING-MEN
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Wow.
Dec 28, 2003 23:52:14 GMT -5
Post by RecordRelapse on Dec 28, 2003 23:52:14 GMT -5
Hey, this is to Collin's query on Hella. yea they are absoluely awesome spazzing rock. I actually saw them them for the first time when they were touring with Xiu Xiu on th Knife Play tour. Xiu Xiu played first and fucking crippled my brain with their intensity, honesty, and sheer brutal passion. Then Hella came on and rocked the house. they sound somewhat similar to the band Lightning Bolt, or if you like bands like the Flying Luttenbachs, An Albatross, or if you've ever said, "hmm let's hear The Locust do some longer instrumentals" then you should be all over Hella.
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Wow.
Jan 15, 2004 8:12:29 GMT -5
Post by Noel on Jan 15, 2004 8:12:29 GMT -5
Hella rule.
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